Update

It took a while for the bump on Zeus' leg to go away. The surgeon believes it was fluid build up and was making it uncomfortable for him to move it which is why he had troubles with it. Thankfully it went away and he started to toe touch more and slowly put more weight on it.

It has been 8 months since Zeus' last TPLO and he is doing well. He is stiff getting up some days but overall he is much better than he was BEFORE the TPLO's. He can run in the yard and now with his new brother Cash. Before he had the TPLO's he wouldn't run or even try too. I still feel I made the best decision possible and haven't had any complications with his operations since. I did follow the very long restrictions of exercise to a T which I believe helped.

Today Zeus is very happy boy and I am giving him the following supplements:

Glucosamine - 2000mg a day
Chondroitin - 1600mg a day
MSM - 2000mg a day
Salmon Oil - 8 pumps a day
Chicken feet - I still give him these about once a week

Week Two - Day 4

Well we've come to a bump in the road. Sunday Zeus started to limp really badly and it didn't improve by yesterday (monday) so I took him into the clinic. They did x-rays and everything looks great! Plate is still in place, it looks fabulous...but he is still limping. So I am to keep him on Metacam until he improves. Well this morning he was worse then yesterday, he tried to walk on three legs which wasn't working very well and once we got outside he was walking better but still holding it up any chance he got. I'm really not sure what to think or do! I feel helpless!

He wasn't all that interested in his food Monday unless I held the bowl for him while he laid in his bed, last night he wouldn't eat, and this morning he ate half his food.

The surgeon said if he doesn't improve at home to have him re-checked again.

I really am not sure what to do

Day 6

I thought I would write what supplements I've been giving Zeus this time around. We've changed it a bit from the last time.

Every day Zeus gets:

- 6 pumps of fish oils
- 2,000mg of MSM
- a raw chicken foot (most natural form of Glucosamine & Chondroitin)
- 500mg vitamin C.

Almost one week is passed!! Time is flying by a lot quicker this time and I'm very happy about that!

Zeus' 2nd Birthday!!!!! (day 5 recovery)

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY ZEUS!!!!

Today was Zeus' 2nd Birthday and here are some pictures of him that I took today! It snowed for him last night, snow is his most favorite thing in the world (besides food)!

He's been doing really well with his recovery, here is a picture of his knee today.

I'm really happy with how his recovery is going so far. He's walking 100x better then he was the first day he came home. He seems to have understood now that his left knee is okay and there is no need to worry about it, he's not favoring it much, still a little, but he's walking a lot more comfortably now.

2nd TPLO (right knee) Day ONE

Just picked Zeus up this evening and got him home!!!!!
He is such a positive boy! The staff there fell in love with him and said he was so quiet and very good with them even when they were poking him with IV etc. and never put up a fight which probably made it a lot easier on the staff and him!

This time it is a bit different from the first TPLO. He doesn't seem to be 100% sure about his left knee yet which surprised me a lot. So he wants to move quickly and seems to be depending on his front legs more where with the first one he was very slow moving. I'm hoping this doesn't continue on and going to call the surgeon tomorrow to see what he thinks.

Here is a video of him walking to eat his dinner. You can see how his left knee isn't really 100%. I hope this improves over the next week.

Zeus' 2nd TPLO

I just dropped Zeus off at the Western Veterinary Specialist clinic for his 2nd TPLO. It was really the saddest time that I've taken him to have an operation. Usually it takes him a while to try and bolt from the clinic, but this time it was hard to get him in the front doors. My heart just broke when I handed him off to the Vet Tech, Zeus tried harder to get away and he looked back at me and I just burst into tears.

Jason and I both REALLY REALLY didn't want him to go in this time, he has been so happy lately, it's been about 24 weeks since his first TPLO and he's been enjoying the 3.5 acers that is his new yard. We are hoping to add another Mastiff to our family in the spring and it will be perfect timing for Zeus because he should be back to his normal self by about March.

He should be going in for his operation within the next few hours and I'll be getting a call from the Vet Tech and I'll know how he did and how the operation went.

I am very thankful for the staff at Western Vet Hospital. They are amazing and I feel so lucky to have this amazing facility in our city for Zeus. Knowing he's in their care really makes this less stressful.


****11:20am

Just got the call from the Vet Tech and Zeus is doing great, he is just waking up now. The operation went smoothly and there was no meniscus damage, the cruciate was only partially torn, and there was no arthritic change at all. PHEW!! I am calling them around 3pm to find out what time I get to pick him up tomorrow morning!! Then I'll bring him home and pamper him like crazy!

Week 14! :)

I just booked Zeus in to see the surgeon on the 13th, one week from today! I'm very anxious to see how his x-rays turn out and what info I get from the Surgeon. Hopefully the bone is healed beautifully and the plate and screws are in place still! :)

Then we'll talk about when to book him in for his right knee :( He's just starting to seem normal again to me, other then he can't go offleash or play with other dogs...but he is his normal happy silly self and I'm really loving having him back. But I am noticing that on walks his left knee which was just operated on, looks waaaaaaay better then his right knee, which needs the operation.

We are moving October 15th, so the plan is to do the right knee after we move and probably a week after so he can get settled into his new home. Then do the TPLO on his right knee, and he should be his normal self by April 2008!! Ready for summer so we can go to the offleash parks again and play in the river!!! YAY :)